Mount Lavinia Hotel will present an eminent classical music highlight on 20th October 2011 in the Empire Ballroom, when the renowned “Morita String Quartet” lead by Mr Masahiro Morita will take the stage to offer a night of unforgettable music, where passion comes to play……….
Given below is the snap shot of the programme line up for the evening.

●Joseph Haydn: String Quartet No. 62 “Emperor” in C-Major Op.76 No.3
I. Allegro
II. Poco adagio; cantabile
III. Minuetto. Allegro
IV. Finale. Presto
Haydn’s string quartet No. 62 in C major, also known as Op. 76, no. 3, is one of the six quartets composed in 1796 – 1797, which were dedicated to Hungarian Count Joseph Erdödy. It has the nickname “Emperor”, because in the second movement, Haydn quotes the melody from Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser (“God Save Emperor Francis”), an anthem he wrote for Emperor Francis II. This same melody is known today for its later use in the German national anthem, Deutschlandlied.
●Antonín Dvořák: String Quartet No.12 “America” in F-Major Op. 96
I. Allegro ma non troppo
II. Lento
III. Molto vivace
IV. Finale : vivace ma non troppo
Dvořák composed this famous Quartet, often nicknamed as “America”, in 1893 during a summer retreat from his teaching post in New York. He spent his vacation in the hamlet of Spillville, Iowa, which was home to a Czech immigrant community. The quartet was written around the same time as the New World Symphony, the crowning masterpiece of Dvořák’s years in the US. The spirited third movement imitates the rhapsodic song of an American bird, and in the final movement, the composition strongly suggests the presence of a railway or train.
●Lalanath de Silva: Piano Quintet “Tablesque” [World Première]
‘Tablesque’, a composition by Sri Lankan composer De Silva, was originally written for string orchestra based on “tabla” rhythms in 2000. The work was transcribed and further developed for this concert, to be the first Sri Lankan composition for the piano quintet repertoire. Mr. De Silva said, “If you listen carefully to a tablist or local drummer there is a kind of “melody” to her rhythms. Here you will not see a Tablist, but you will here tabla rhythms and melodies.

●Robert Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat Major Op.44
I. Allegro brillante
II. In modo d’una marcia. Un poco largamente
II. Scherzo: Molto vivace
IV. Allegro ma non troppo
Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet was written in just a few weeks in September and October 1842, during his “Chamber Music Year.” Clara Schumann, the composer’s wife and a noted pianist, premiered the work in 1843, at the Leipzig Gewandhaus. R.Schumann was one of the first significant composers to pair the piano with the string quartet. This work established the quintet for piano and string quartet as a major Romantic genre.

The tour of Morita String Quartet of Japan is sponsored by The Sri Lankan Air Lines (Ltd), Toyota Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.. The coordinator of this musical event is “Music Funs”.

Make a note in your diaries for 20th October, 7.30pm onwards, Empire Ballroom Mount Lavinia Hotel. The evening will truly be delightful for classical music enthusiast. Tickets are available at the BMICH, Mount Lavinia Hotel and Barefoot. Don’t miss this one of a kind one off concert.

A full day programme was organized with prominent specialists attending this unique event. – Doctors, specialists, certified counsellors and general physicians. The staff had the opportunity to relate their health issues and obtain information and consultation on Diabetes, Cholesterol, Eye diseases, Blood sugar etc..

The panel comprised of – Dr Asela from the National Eye Hospital, Four specialists from the Ayurveda Hospital, Dr Vipula Wickremasinghe from the Dental Institute, Dr Saman Hettige, Dr Chandana Galapaththi and Ms Wathsala.

In an industry where there’s so much of stress involved sometimes we tend to neglect ourselves due to work pressure. It’s our duty to ensure that we take care of all our staff, the most valuable asset in our organization” states Mr Anura Dewapura General Manager, Mount Lavinia Hotel.

An inspiring speech was given by Professor Sarath Wijesuriya, from the Colombo University, who stressed the importance of “Family Life”. The programme continued with a speech given by Chef Pubilis on Healthy food.

The days’ theme was ; Participate ……… Take advice…….. Pave your way to live a healthy life

The show was sold out and the internationally acclaimed trio, did not disappoint their loyal fans when they presented the concert “Opera Recital Soloists of the Teatro alla Scala, Academy of Lyric Opera on 16th October at the Empire Ballroom.
The soloists performed to a packed audience with their selection of classical pieces with consummate ease, striking a responsive chord with the audience. Musically, it had something for everyone, a combination of music with showmanship. They delighted the audience with performances of much loved classics. They sang with artistry and emotion, be it when they sang solo or as a duo. They moved easily with full blooded notes, that filled the ballroom to the soft and subtle, with devastating control.
Filippo – baritone, Francesca – soprano and Antonella – pianista, had the audience spellbound as they sang from their heart, song after song, each beautifully crafted and executed.
Mount Lavinia Hotel, dedicated to art and theatre set the stage for what was to be one of the most spectacular concerts, Colombo has ever seen.
One hopes that Colombo’s audience will be lucky enough to witness and hear such concerts of pure class. It was indeed a rare concert.

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Italy, is a country that truly appreciates the benefits of making a meal an event to be shared with family and friends. A meal in Italy is lingered over whether it is served at home or in a restaurant. You will never feel rushed to finish up and leave in a crowded Italian restaurant.
The 24th Slow Food Night at Mount Lavinia Hotel takes pride to this wonderful experience specially formulated by Chef Rizzoli. This Food and Wine evening has everything you need to dine Italian style: modern and traditional recipes, regional dishes and beverages to complement the Italian food. Food is one of the cornerstones of Italian culture and even if times are changing and life is more and more hectic, Italians still find great pleasure in sitting at a table, and sharing a good meal together. Italians love discovering new foods and new ways of preparing familiar dishes. Every year there’s more and more interest in the traditional cuisine of the various regions and in biological, environment friendly foods.
The Slow Food Movement is a movement that actually started in Italy by Carlo Petrini in Rome 1986. It only makes sense that such a movement was founded in Italy. Italy takes great pride in their culinary traditions and the people have passed family recipes and cooking methods down through many generations. Using the freshest ingredients available, which would more than likely be grown locally, and the Italian way of life, with rich regional specialty dishes that focus on the best crops grown in the region at different times of year. The slow food movement would like to resurrect the kitchen and dinner table as centers of conversation, pleasure, culture and community. It represents a slower lifestyle, taking time out to enjoy the pleasures of life. In essence it is the exact opposite of the fast food, frenetic lifestyle of today.
Slow Food nights at MLH have been home-cooked delicacies, Floribbean cuisine, Cuban wonders, Indian delicacies, Swedish, Japanese, Danish, Mexican Argentinean, Peuro Rican, Australian, American are just a few. Slow Food, is dedicated to preserving and supporting traditional ways of growing, producing and preparing food.
The Slow Food Manifesto declares that: A firm defense of quiet material pleasure is the only way to oppose the universal folly of Fast Life. Hence, MLH endorses their strong link between plate and planet. The slow food movement’s mission is to show us that we can take the time to enjoy the pleasures of food and that the enjoyment of wholesome food is essential to the pursuit of happiness, states Mr Anura Dewapura General Manager Mount Lavinia Hotel.
The 24th Slow Food Event will take place on 29th October at the Tropical Hut at 7.30pm. The Price per person would be Rs 2900/-.